Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.IMPORTANT!

This is the ROBERT TEMPLE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE. It contains descriptions and notes relating to almost 18,000 titles in the fields of British and American literature, being the bulk of the stock that has passed through our hands since 1984, with the addition of a few earlier items of especial interest. Books currently in stock are not included, and it is therefore necessary to supplement your search by looking at our Current Catalogues. For the most part full bibliographical descriptions are given, though for some earlier items, catalogued when computing space was more restricted the details given are quite brief. For an account of the conventions adopted, the abbreviations used, and reference sources consulted, please see our information pages.

Please note: The arrangement here is the same as that adopted in our current catalogues, and as there our larger files are presented in sections for ease of downloading. At the end of each section you are invited to browse the next.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

MACHEN (Arthur). Fantastic tales or the way to attain a Book full of Pantegruelism now for The first time done into English by Arthur Machen translator of the Heptameron of Margaret of Navarre. Privately Printed, Carbonnek, 1890. Imp.8vo; half-title with limitation notice on verso; photogravure frontispiece with tissue guard, and nine engraved plates; quarter cream parchment, pale blue boards, spine with raised bands, lettered gilt; a.e. uncut. Very slight marking of covers, otherwise a fine copy. Rare.

Of an edition limited to fifty copies numbered and signed by the author, printed upon large Van Gelder hand made paper, this is one of only twelve copies with the frontispiece printed on India paper and laid on, and the Illustrations on the best Japanese paper. The scarcest of the three issues of the large paper edition, published at 45s. as against 35s. for the ordinary large paper issue. Danielson, pp.16-17; Goldstone & Sweetser p.69, recording this issue only from a prospectus.

The first edition was published in December 1850 at 5/-, and was also probably dated 1851. The present volume is in appearance a fairly normal yellow-back, apart from the curiosity of having its edges gilt. The publisher's file copy, rubber-stamped on the half-title page ‘Property Room. Not to be taken away' and bearing in addition a rubber date-stamp ‘30 June 1937' with the hand-written instruction ‘Melt' and the initials ‘ALS' in ink, this being an instruction to destroy the stereo plates. We have not come across the publisher W.N. Wright before, but a glance through the English Catalogue of Books for 1850 suggests that he published a measurable percentage of the books printed in England in that year, if but barely so. The present copy came from the files of Frederick Warne and Co., who evidently at some point bought out Wright's publishing business. Warne's themselves seem not to have come into existence much before about 1865. The rubber stamps and annotations, however, were added by them and are typical of volumes purchased from their file.

A very scarce and delicate book, printed as well as published in Aberdeen. Short stories reprinted from a periodical, ‘The People's Friend'. Not in Sadleir or Wolff; COPAC records the five copyright deposit copies and Aberdeen only. It was also translated into German.

Not in Sadleir, or Summers. A picaresque novel set variously in Sydney, New South Wales, a sheep station near Bathurst, and several locations in England, containing strong ‘Gothick' elements, but with social concerns including reform of the medical and dispensing trades, private lunatic asylums, the London slums, the legal system, etc. Lengthy retrospective passages include descriptions of the experiences of a convict being transported, and of his subsequent life in a penal settlement in Australia; the London chapters involve morphia and opium addiction. Confidently and authoritatively written, richly textured prose, in places, however, a little too digressive and exhortatory for modern taste.

Short stories. Not in Sadleir or Wolff. The pagination is curious, but evidently correct. The Contents leaf is a single inset and the first gathering consists of three leaves: the printer had evidently allowed for four; but the book is tight and sound. A further curiosity of the volume is that the final gathering, unsigned, consists of a conjugate pair. Since the last leaf is blank, one would have expected a singleton printed as part of the same half leaf as the prelims.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MAGINN (Daniel Wentworth, Staff Assist. Surgeon).]. Tales Of Military life. By the Author of "The Military Sketch Book." In three volumes. Vol. I [II]. Vandeleur. [III. Vandeleur (concluded). Gentleman Gray.] London: Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street, 1829. 3 Vols., lge 12mo; half-title not called for in volume one, present in other volumes; fly-title precedes start of text in each volume; 2pp. integral advertisements at end of volume two, 1p. at end of volume three; three line Errata on verso of last leaf of Preface in volume one, two line Errata at end of text in volume three; pp.[viii]+335+[i (blank)]; [iv]+322+2; [iv]+331+[i]; drab boards, paper spine label; a.e. uncut. Almost invisibly rebacked with matching paper, the original labels laid on; small scorch mark on front end-paper of volume one; a little scattered very light foxing passim; otherwise, and in effect, a fine copy. Scarce.

Not in Sadleir or in Wolff; Block, p.150. Halkett and Laing and Block identify the author as William Maginn: they are wrong. We are indebted to David Latane of Virginia Commonwealth University for the information derived from the records of the Royal Literary Fund that the author of both of these works was D.W. Maginn.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MAGINN (William).]. Tales Of Military life. By the Author of "The Military Sketch Book." In three volumes. Vol. I [II]. Vandeleur. [III. Vandeleur (concluded). Gentleman Gray.] London: Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street, 1829. 3 Vols., lge 12mo; half-title not called for in volume one, present in other volumes; fly-title precedes start of text in each volume; 2pp. integral advertisements at end of volume two, 1p. at end of volume three; three line Errata on verso of last leaf of Preface in volume one, two line Errata at end of text in volume three; pp.[viii]+335+[i (blank)]; [iv]+322+2; [iv]+331+[i]; drab boards, paper spine label; a.e. uncut. Almost invisibly rebacked with matching paper, the original labels laid on; small scorch mark on front end-paper of volume one; a little scattered very light foxing passim; otherwise, and in effect, a fine copy. Scarce.

Not in Sadleir or in Wolff; Block, p.150. Halkett and Laing and Block identify the author as William Maginn.

The mumeration allows for a leaf before the title-page which is neither present here nor in the British Library copy, but in the latter the last two gatherings, ‘L' and ‘M', consist respectively of two and four leaves, and there is a stub attached to the tipped in title-leaf, which is, to say the least, mysterious. It evidently completed a full sheet. The British Library copy is wire-stabbed apart from the title-leaf and stub. It has, however, like our own, been rebound, and it is not not possible on this evidence to suggest whether an initial leaf is lacking here in both copies or not. Printed in Dublin, and issued originally in wrappers, at 1/- net. Not in Sadleir or Wolff.

First edition in English of the Maillard, the first of this translation - and possibly the first edition in English - of the Goldschmidt, both being issued as volumes of ‘Routledge's Railway Library'. Neither title is in either Sadleir or Wolff, though Wolff records a copy of Mary Howitt's three volume translation of the second work, which appeared more or less simultaneously with the present one - either in late December 1851 or January 1852.

The spine bears the price ‘21/-', which was the same as for the library issue in two volumes: suggesting that this two volumes in one issue was not a remainder, but rather a simultaneous issue intended for bookshop sale. Not in Sadleir or Wolff.

As implied in the title, a novel in epistolary form. Though wholly forgotten now, it had something of a contemporary success, passing through at least eleven printings in two years. Not in Sadleir or Wolff.

As implied in the title, a novel in epistolary form. Though wholly forgotten now, it had something of a contemporary success, passing through at least eleven printings in two years. Not in Sadleir or Wolff.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

MAJENDIE (Lady Margaret). Past forgiveness? In two volumes. London: Richard Bentley and Son, Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen, 1889. Sm.cr.8vo; title page printed in red and black; printer's imprint leaf at end of volume two; pp.[iv]+280; [iv]+266+[ii]; blue buckram, blocked gilt on front cover, lettered and with short rule gilt on spine; end-papers coated pale yellow. Back end-papers slightly cracked in volume one; two or three leaves very slightly foxed; otherwise a nice copy.

Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 4400, listing only a later issue, two volumes in one bound in diagonally fine ribbed royal blue cloth, with multiple rules in black on front cover and spine, in blind on back cover, spine lettered gilt.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

MAKOWER (Stanley V.). Cecilia: The Story of a Girl and Some Circumstances. John Lane: the Bodley Head, 1897. Blank before half-title; single inset text-paper advertisement leaf, followed by publisher's inserted 12pp. Catalogue at end, dated 1897; green buckram ruled and lettered white on front cover and spine; top- and fore- edges uncut. Slight general wear to covers; small hole in front end-paper; numerals written in ink on upper margin of title-page; scattered light foxing and dusting; a near nice copy, nonetheless.

First edition, English issue. For copyright reasons, printed in America. The second novel by a ‘Keynotes' author.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MALET (Lady).]. Violet; Or, The danseuse: A portraiture Of Human passions and character. In two volumes. Henry Colburn, 13, Great Marlborough-street, 1836. 2 Vols., 12mo; bound up without the half-titles; last leaf in volume two a single inset; verso of last leaf of text in each volume bearing publisher's advertisements; contemporary rose cloth, lettered gilt on spine. Spines and edges of covers faded; a very little light foxing; otherwise a nice copy. Scarce.

Wolff, 4406; Sadleir, 1524, remarking: "It is strange how completely forgotten is this in many ways remarkable book. It moved Bulwer Lytton (who, for all his grandiloquence, did not easily praise his contemporaries' work) to three separate panegyrics over a period of twenty-five years, and is warmly praised in a sympathetic article on L.E.L. by ‘A Middle-Aged Man', printed in Bentley's Miscellany for 1845. Here are Bulwer Lytton's tributes: (a) In a letter to Lady Blessington, Oct.20, 1836: ‘I have read ‘Violet'. It has great truth of painting and knowledge of a certain kind of life.' (b) In a letter to Mrs Cunningham, April 16, 1837: ‘Have you read ‘Violet'? Is it not pretty? That and the ‘Pickwick Papers' are the best things I have seen for years.' (c) In an interview, given on June 21, 1861: ‘Lady Malet has written ‘Violet or The Danseuse', the best novel of the sort I know. . . . When I saw it, I said I must look out for a rival. The circle of interest is limited - it is descriptive of the back scenes of theatrical life - but it beats ‘Adam Bede' and everything which has since appeared." We wholeheartedly concur. After 150 years, the writing is still fresh, the observation acute and subtle, the exploration of shades of feeling minutely accurate, the presentation of character vivid and convincing. The story is, in the end, a little highly coloured, but there nonetheless is scarcely a false note. One of the few neglected nineteenth century novels we have come across which really deserves to be still available in print. In this copy the following printing errors have been observed (issue significance, if any, not known): In volume one, p.16, last line, ‘perhpas'; p.89, l.10, dropped hyphen at end of line; p.112, l.23, ‘I don't' for ‘don't'; p.155, l.5, ‘castdown' all one word; in volume two, p.171, l.11, dropped hyphen at end of line; p.194, l.1, ‘poorwoman' all one word; advertisement leaf, 13ll. from foot ‘alreay' for ‘already'.

The first edition, ‘Indian and Colonial Series' issue, so denominated on the front board. The English issue was provided with a tipped-in frontispiece, certainly never included here, and was in cloth, with end-papers coated black. The sheets, however, were identical. Wolff, 3021, describes a copy of the English issue. Not in Sadleir.

Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 3019, records the author's page proofs; otherwise only a third edition (3019a), dated 1897, of which he gives an accurate but very confusing collation. It is interesting to note that Wolff's third edition had a Catalogue dated October 1896, whereas our first edition has a Catalogue dated November 1896. this supports a long-time hypothesis of our own that publishers (or their binders) would naturally make use of the latest available catalogue whilst the stocks lasted, and then resort to any earlier ones they might happen to have. The earliest copies of this title should probably have a Catalogue dated September or October 1896, since October was the month, according to the English Catalogue of Books, in which it was published, and we know from Wolff's page proofs that the novel was still being set up in type and corrected during August. The November Catalogues must have been bound up as soon as they were ready.

Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 3023. In the Preface, a lengthy quotation from Lafcadio Hearn, the title is explained as follows: ‘"The Gateless Barrier" [. . .] is one of the books especially studied by the Zen sect, or the sect of the Dhyâna. A peculiarity of some of the Dhyâna texts - this (story) is a good example - is that they are not explanatory. They only suggest. Questions are put, but the student must think out the answers for himself. He must think them out but not write them. You know that Dhyâna represents human effort to reach, through meditation, zones of thought beyond the range of verbal expression; and any thought narrowed into utterance loses all Dhyâna quality . . . Well, this story is supposed to be true; but it is used only for a Dhyâna question. . . .'

Sadleir, 1549, erroneously dating the book as [1849]. As recorded by the English Catalogue of Books, it was first advertised in the Publisher's Circular in December 1850, and this agrees with entries in the two sets of advertisements in the present copy: the text-paper advertisements including a listing of ‘A Week at Killarney' ‘New Edition, revised by a Visit in 1850'; the catalogue a ‘New Christmas book for the young . . . The Illustrated year book, Second series. The Wonders, events, and discoveries Of 1850.' The Sadleir copy was without the catalogue. Woolf, 4457, recording a copy with the catalogue; and 4457a, a rebound presentation copy with the inscription dated ‘Decr 26/[ ] (date shaved off by the binder!). Wolff follows Sadleir in dating the book [1849]. The ‘antique' design of this volume gave rise to a vogue which continued through most of the decade, the chief exponents besides Hall, Virtue being Smith, Elder, Longmans, and in the late fifties and early sixties, the resuscitated firm of Saunders & Otley. Sadleir (I, p.225) remarks that "The design (maybe to some extent the archaism) of Thackeray's Esmond can be directly attributed to the example of Hall, Virtue's experiments with Miss Manning".

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MANNING (Anne).]. The Colloquies Of Edward Osborne, Citizen and clothworker, Of London. As Reported by ye Authour [sic] of ‘Mary Powell.' London: Imprynted for Arthur Hall, Virtue, & Co., At 25, Paternoster Row, N.D. [1852]. Binder's blank at front and back; wood-engraved frontispiece with tissue guard, and decorative title printed in red and black precede letterpress title printed in red and black; 6pp. integral advertisements at end; pp.[iv]+294+[vi]; bevelled brown coarse straight morocco cloth ruled and blocked blind on sides and spine, lettered gilt on spine; a.e. red; end-papers coated terra-cotta; binder's ticket of ‘Remnant & Edmonds' on back paste-down. Two or three scattered fox-spots, but a fine copy of a handsome and unusual book.

Sadleir, 1536, recording an otherwise similar copy without the binder's blanks or the blind ruling and blocking on the spine, and with end-papers [coated] red. Wolff, 4436, recording a copy with the binder's blanks, but apparently otherwise as Sadleir's. A book produced in Hall, Virtue's experimental ‘antique style', using the long ‘s', and the pages with ruled frames enclosing marginal notes. The cloth is intended to resemble a period binding of leather over oak boards.

This title not in Sadleir; Wolff, 4467, describing a variant differing in make-up from the present copy by having the two text-paper advertisement leaves at the end and in being without a Catalogue, and in binding by the cloth being turquoise and of a diagonal ripple-grain. Since the Wolff copy has also an authorial presentation inscription to her sisters (dated, however, ‘Sept. 1853'), the present binding is presumably secondary - though the Wolff binding may conceivably have been a trial. Investigation of several copies suggests that the last leaf of text, signed ‘R', the two conjugate advertisements leaves, and the title leaf, were printed together completing a half sheet. The second advertisement leaf appears to have been dropped from later copies, whilst in early copies both advertisement leaves are found placed variously at the front or at the back in different binding batches.

This title not in Sadleir; Wolff, 4467, describing a variant differing in make-up from the present copy by having an second advertisement leaf at the end (conjugate with the first), and in binding by the cloth being turquoise and of a diagonal ripple-grain and the end-papers [coated] salmon pink. Copies are also known in jade green cloth, of the same grain as this, but with two conjugate advertisement leaves present at the front. In view of the date of the inscription in the present copy, and the absence of the second advertisement leaf, it has to be considered secondary. Investigation of several copies suggests that the last leaf of text, signed ‘R', the two conjugate advertisements leaves, and the title leaf, were printed together completing a half sheet, the advertisements thereby being integral. The second advertisement leaf appears to have been dropped from later copies, whilst in early copies both advertisement leaves are found placed variously at the front or at the back in different binding batches.

Not a historical novel, but one of the author's contemporary tales. Written for serial publication, it starts out as though it is to be a ghost story, with a clerical brother and sister going to live in a reputedly haunted house - which is a good device to keep you reading! - and does in fact include two or three short rationalised ghost stories: but it is in essence a kind of pastoral romance. Not in Sadleir; Wolff, 4470a, recording a copy in cherry red vertically ribbed cloth blocked in black on sides and spine, lettered gilt on spine, with deep green end-papers, and an inserted publisher's catalogue at the end dated January 1855. The Wolff copy was probably secondary since the book appears to have been published for the Christmas season of 1854 and, as was usual at that time, dated ahead. In this copy l.17 on p.293 lacks the final ‘l' in ‘small'.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MANNING (Anne)]. The Ladies of Bever Hollow. A Tale of English Country Life. By the Author of "Mary Powell." In two volumes. London: Printed for Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, 1858. 2 Vols., f'cap 8vo; half-titles not called for; title pages printed in red and black; leaf signed ‘b' following Contents leaf in volume one, and leaf R1 in volume two both single insets; vertically fine-ribbed reddish brown cloth ruled and blocked blind on sides, ruled blind, blocked and lettered gilt, lettered reddish-brown through gilt, on spine; a.e. uncuut; end-papers coated yellow. Minute and well-nigh invisible restorations to cloth at corners of spine; gilt a little dulled; otherwise, and in over-all effect, a near-fine copy.

Sadleir, 1546, recording a copy with white end-papers and cut edges powdered pinkish-brown, but otherwise similar; Wolff, 4454. The second of the author's domestic novels (the first having been published some twenty years earlier), and one of her most successful books. In our experience this first edition is now rather scarce.

Presentation copy with the author's signed holograph inscription on the half-title: "Beatrice Stebbing. / A Christmas gift from her affectionate / friend, Anne Manning. 1859. / Ita sano, et amami!" Beatrice Stebbing, later Batty, was the author of ‘An English girl's account of a Moravian Settlement in the Black Forest' which Anne Manning edited for publication in 1858. Whilst she was writing and seeing the present book through the press, she was receiving a good deal of collaborative help from Beatrice Stebbing with her next book, ‘Valentine Duval', Beatrice toiling in the British Museum to translate for her both the biography of Duval and ‘a great many of the letters' - a fact recorded in the prefatory letter to ‘Valentine Duval', which was dedicated "To Beatrice, Proceeding to Amritsir, Northern India" and published in 1860, by which time Beatrice had already begun her voyage - hence the "Ita sano, et amami" of the present inscription. The front pastedown of the present copy bears the signature of Beatrice Stebbing, the ‘Stebbing' later neatly erased and her married name added instead in a paler ink. The present work is not a historical novel, but one of Anne Manning's ‘quiet comedies of village and small town contemporary life' (Sadleir). Sadleir, 1537, recording a copy in the presentation binding of ‘full maroon embossed morocco, lettered in gold; bevelled boards, all edges gilt and patterned' and with a blank instead of the initial advertisement leaf, inscribed to Anne Manning's neice, Florence, in 1864. Given the early date of the present inscription, and the fact that the recipient was about to start for India, it is possible that it had to be given before the presentation bindings had been prepared. Wolff, 4439, records a copy with no inscription that he says was from a family source, in an otherwise similar binding of blue cloth, but with cream end-papers.

The first illustrated edition of a book first published in 1858 - and in some sense a sequel to Mary Powell, giving brief later glimpses of the home-life of Milton. An uncommon Manning title in any form. Issued at 2/-. Sadleir, 1538a, not noting that the initial advertisements are integral; Wolff, 4440, listing this edition only.

Dedicated ‘To Beatrice' [Stebbing, later Batty], who did much of the donkey-work in researching the book, spending "two or three months" as the Dedication avows, in the British Museum library, translating "not only all the biography, but a great many of the letters." Anne Manning was taken to task by a reviewer in the ‘Athanaeum' for not giving credit to Miss Stebbing more fully. Printed in Winchester by Hugh Barclay. This title not in Sadleir; Wolff, under 4475, records three copies, all in "green morocco cloth, blocked in blind and gold on front [cover], in blind on back [cover], blocked and lettered in gold on spine; cream end-papers." Two of these were from a family source (one being a presentation copy), and this may have been a special ‘author's' binding. The present volume bears the price ‘7/6' upon the spine.

The author's name appears in full at the end of the author's prefatory note on p.[v]. The cloth grain is in fact not a simple straight morocco, but on close examination rather complicated, involving a patterning of the morocco graining that from some angles gives the effect of broad diagonal ribs. This title not in Sadleir; Wolff, 4444, recording a similar copy with a presentation inscription from the author dated ‘Dec. 17, 1860'.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MANNING (Anne).]. Belforest. A Tale of English Country Life. By the author of "Mary Powell," and "The Ladies of Bever Hollow." In two volumes. Richard Bentley, 1865. 2 Vols.; bound up without the half-titles, the integral leaf of advertisements at the end of volume one, and the final blank in volume two; old half roan, cloth sides. Leather worn, and joints cracked, but binding sound and strong; some dusting, but in general a nice copy.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MANNING (Anne).]. Miss Biddy Frobisher: A salt-water story By The author of ‘Mary Powell.' London, Sampson Low, son, and Marston, Milton House, Ludgate Hill, 1866. (The right of Translation is reserved.) Final blank; woodcut head and tail pieces and initial letters to the chapters throughout; pp.[iv]+298+[ii]; bevelled green sand-grain cloth, ruled blind on sides, gilt on spine, blocked and lettered gilt on front cover and spine; a.e. uncut; endppapers faced chocolate. Label removed from back free end-paper leaving two or three insignificant scuffs; a little scattered light foxing and dusting; but a nice copy nonetheless.

Sadleir, 1551, listing a presentation copy in an apparerntly lighter shade of cloth (that of the present copy being of a bright but bluish green, his ‘grass-green'), and with all the blocking as well as the ruling in blind; Wolff, 4460, listing a presentation copy apparently similar to the copy offered here. Both the Wolff and Sadleir copies had a presentation inscription dated New Year's Day, Wolff recording his as 1866, Sadleir his as 1865, the latter being almost certainly an error - on either the part of Sadleir or the author!

Indian and eastern stories, similar to those in Mansford's earlier volume, ‘Shafts from an Eastern Quiver'. The correct first printing, printed on good quality paper and with a dated title-page, but the Catalogue lists this title without the asterisk denoting it is a new issue, and would appear to be from a slightly later date. According to the Catalogue issued as a volume in the ‘Red Mountain' series. Not in Sadleir or Wolff.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

MARRIOT (E.F.).]. Black-eyed Susan; Or, The sailor's bride. A nautical romance. [‘By E.F. Marriot', on engraved title only.] Printed and published by Edward Lloyd, At the office of "Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper," 12, Salisbury-square, Fleet-street, 1845. Demy 8vo in half sheets; steel-engraved frontispiece and vignette title-page, on India paper, precede letterpress title-page; half-title not called for; twenty-five woodcut illustrations in text; pp.[ii]+198. BOUND WITH: [PREST (T.P.).]. The First false step. A Novel. [On drop head to p.[1] of text subtitled ‘Or, The path of crime. A Romance. By the author of "Varney, The Vampire," "The Rivals," "Jane Shore," etc. In three parts.']. Printed and published by Edward Lloyd, 12, Salisbury-square, Fleet-street, 1846. Demy 8vo in half sheets; half-title not called for; twenty-two woodcut illustrations in text; pp.[ii]+174. Two works in one volume, contemporary quarter calf, marbled sides. In general nice.

Block, pp.153 (erroneously spelling Marriot's name with two ‘t's), and 190; Summers, pp.248 (giving no author's name), and 325; neither work in Wolff. ‘Black-eyed Susan' was issued in twenty-five, and ‘The First False Step' in twenty-two numbers, each priced at one penny.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

MARRYAT (Florence). For ever and ever: A Drama of Life. In three volumes. Richard Bentley, 1866. 3 Vols.; bound up without the half-title in volume one and the integral advertisement leaf at end of volumes one and two; half-titles not called for in volumes two and three. Victorian half green calf, marbled boards, sprinkled edges, light drab faced end-papers. Slight worming; otherwise in general a nice copy.

Printed in Hertford. Issued, according to the advertisements, as Volume 4 in Groombridge's ‘Popular Novels' series - as a yellowback, at 2s., and in cloth, as here, at 2s.6d. Apparently the second one volume edition, following the Tinsley three volume edition of 1876, and the Moxon one volume edition of 1878. All editions of this title are now scarce. This title not in Sadleir; Wolff, 4492, listing the three-decker.

ROBERT TEMPLE BOOKSELLERS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ARCHIVE, File C: Nineteenth Century General Fiction. All books first editions and first printings, except as stated.

[MARRYAT (Capt.).]. Japhet, In search of a father. By the author of "Peter Simple," "Jacob Faithful," &c. In three volumes. Saunders and Otley, 1836. 3 Vols., lge.12mo; half-title in volume one, none called for in volumes two and three; 8pp. f'cap 8vo publisher's catalogue bound in between front end-papers in volume one; 4pp. integral advertisements at end of volume three; original drab boards, paper spine label; uncut edges. A nice copy.

Sadleir 1579. The first issue. Sadleir's copy was without the publisher's catalogue in volume one. Number seven on Sadleir's list of comparative scarcities. Sadleir notes the general high level of scarcity of Marryat's titles in original boards.